Beckham and Milan slip to fresh defeat

Carlo Ancelotti`s ageing...

David Beckham`s AC Milan capped a disappointing week with a 2-1 defeat at Sampdoria which leaves them 12 points adrift of arch-rivals Inter in the Serie A title race and looking over their shoulders as they bid to seal a Champions League spot, according to CNN.

Carlo Ancelotti`s ageing Milan team threw away a two-goal lead in midweek to crash out of the UEFA Cup to Werder Bremen and their latest defeat came after Antonio Cassano gave the Genoa-based side the lead in the 33rd minute.

Cassano`s header was ruled to have squeezed over the line as Milan protested and the visitors were in further trouble after Gianpaolo Pazzini made it 2-0 early in the second half from a Cassano pass.

Alexandre Pato scored with a clever header in the 80th minute to give Milan some hope they were unable to grab the equalizer as Emerson`s effort was ruled out.

The poor results represent bad timing for Beckham, who is hoping his newly-adopted club will meet Los Angeles Galaxy`s demands to make his loan move permanent.

He is due to return to the Major League Soccer team on March 9 if no deal can be reached.

Fortunately for Milan, Fiorentina and Genoa, the two teams immediately below them in the league, both failed to win on Sunday.